Display rack



July 14, 1942. R. A. BRENHOLT DISPLAY RACK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 6, 1941 WM am July 14, 1942. R. A. BRENHOLT DISPLAY RACK Filed Jan. 6, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 14, 1942 a UNITED STATES ATNT OFFICE DISPLAY RACK Richard A. Brenhollt, Chetek, Wis.

Application January 6, 1941, Serial No. 373,338

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a display rack.

An object of the invention is the production of a simple and efficient holding and display means for certain articles or goods offered for sale to the public.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a novel and efficient display rack that is especially adapted for holding certain types of containers, and attractively displaying the containers to the trade, while at the same time the container can be quickly removed from the display rack, with another container automatically moving into the position of the detached container, whereby the clerks have always ready at hand a displayed container, which can be easily removed from the rack.

A still further object of the invention is the construction of a display rack which has one or more adjustable guiding frames, whereby different sized containers, such as spice holders, can be efliciently stored on the rack, and admirably displayed, ready for sale.

It is also to be understood that my invention provides particularly a spice rack for grocery stores. It is a common practice in stores to pile or stack the spice cans on the shelves, which arrangement is neither neat or handy for the clerks. When using my improved display rack the spice containers have their front row always fully exposed and in neat appearance; as one container, of each row is removed, another drops into its place immediately. It is a simple matter to replenish the supply of containers or holders of the spice, as the rack is susceptible of such refilling. However, when the containers or cans are piled on the shelf, the clerk must reach back and pull the old cans forward, placing the fresh supply behind, which is very unhandy, and which is entirely eliminated by using my improved display rack. Of course, it is to be understood that many other goods can be offered for sale on my display rack, such as cigarettes contained in packages, etc.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a View in side elevation of a display rack constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view.

Figure 3 is a view in front elevation.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective View of the display rack.

Figure 5 is an enlarged view in elevation of one of the locking means for the adjustable guiding frames.

Figure 6 is another embodiment of the locking means.

Figure 7 is another embodiment of the locking means.

Referring to the drawings, in which I have shown the preferred embodiments of the invention, the primary frame I comprises two front uprights 2 and two rear uprights 3. In this embodiment the horizontal rod 4 at each side is an integral part of an upright 2 and an upright 3.

The rear uprights 3 are connected and reinforced by crossed rods 5. At each corner of the primary frame I is a washer-like disc 6.

Connected to the uprights 2 and 3, near their upper ends is a fixed guiding frame I, which frame 1 acts in an efficient manner to stabilize the whole rack. This frame I is preferably made of wire or bar-like members, including the parallel rods or bars 8, between each two of which is placed the containers that are to be displayed upon the rack.

There are three auxiliary or supporting frames 9 that include preferably a one-piece rod-like frame If] to which is fixedly secured supporting rods H. Each supporting rod is fastened at its rear end to the rear end of the frame If), while the front portion of rod H is bent downwardly at l2 to engage the front end of frame It), with the outer platform end [3 of the rod bent slightly upwardly, for better receiving and retaining the container 14, dotted lines, Fig. 6. It is to be noted that the platform end if extends slightly beyond the outer edge of the guiding frame, or frames, of the rack, Fig. 6.

In the rack there are preferably two adjustable guiding frames l5. Each adjustable guiding frame comprises a rod or bar-like outer frame I6 which is fixedly secured near its rear end and at its two sides to the two rear uprights 3. The frame It has sufficient resiliency to permit it to be raised and lowered at its front end to different positions, to accommodate different height containers in the rack. The parallel rods II of the adjustable guiding frame l5 are fixedly secured at their ends to the front and back portions of the frame 16. These spacing rods or bars II are arranged similarly to the like rods 8 of the fixed guiding frame I, Fig. 3.

To retain the adjustable guiding frames in adjusted positions, on the front uprights 2 are placed sets of racks [8 (Fig. that are engaged by the adjustable frame. Each rack I8 is suitably fixedly secured to the upright, and is provided with a plurality of sockets 19 into which fits the adjustable frame [5. In experience, it has been found that the adjustable frame can be easily sprung or moved out of the registering sockets, in one position, and quickly moved up or down to place the frame in a new position, as clearly indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 1. The advantage of this novel structure resides in the fact that different height containers are often displayed, and it is desirable to have the rack readily adaptable for displaying the different height containers.

In Figure 6 the locking means consists in bending outwardly at 20 the upright 2, producing sockets 2| into which is sprung the adjustable guiding frame l5.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 7 the locking means consists of forming sockets 22 in the two front uprights 2, into which the adjustable guiding frame is positioned.

Price tag holders 23 are secured to the rear portion of the fixed guiding frame 1. Each holder 23 comprises two uprights 24 formed into integral double clamping loops 25, between which loops 25 a card, sign, or the like can be secured.

Between each two contiguous rods are bars H, the containers (Figs. 4 and 6) rest upon two supporting rods H. These rods ll constitute a chute whereby the containers freely slide towards the front of the rack, with the foremost container resting in a well-displayed manner upon the platform ends [3. The clerk or operator can easily and quickly grasp the bottom of the container, pulling it outward, to remove the same, whereupon the container next in position will slide down to the exposed position upon the platform end of the supporting frame 9, ready to be removed by the quick snapping jerk of the clerks hand thereon.

When relatively low containers are desired to be displayed upon a supporting frame 9 the cooperating guiding frame I 5 is removed to its lowest position on the cooperating locking means of the front uprights 2. When taller containers are to be displayed upon the same supporting frame, the operator exerts an upward pressure on the front end of the guiding frame, causing the front end of the frame to rise up from its lowest position, and move into the higher-up notches, depending upon the position that the operator desires the guiding frame to assume.

In this specification and claims the terms rods, bars, uprights, etc. are used in a broad sense, meaning any suitable structure or member or unit which may be used in carrying out this invention. Further, the word, container is used in a broad sense, meaning any package, can or the like that can be exposed upon or vended from the display rack herein described. The containers may hold spices, cigarettes or any other goods offered for sale.

'The containers may, therefore, be of metal, paper, or other suitable material, as the display rack is admirably adapted for the efiiciently accommodating and exposing for sale any suitable merchandise contemplated in a general way by the foregoing description.

While I have described the preferred embodiments of my invention and illustrated the same in the accompanying drawings, certain changes or alterations may appear to one skilled in the art to which this invention relates during the extensive manufacture of the same and I, therefore, reserve the right to make such changes or alterations as shall fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a display rack, the combination of a primary frame provided with sets of aligned sockets on its front portion, a supporting frame on said primary frame, and an adjustable guiding frame within said primary frame having portions fitting some of said sockets, whereby said guiding frame can be moved to different vertical positions upon said sets of sockets.

2. In a display rack, the combination of a primary frame provided with rear and front uprights, said front uprights being provided on their inner faces with a plurality of sets of registering sockets, a supporting frame on said primary frame, and an adjustable frame on said primary frame above said supporting frame and being capable of engaging the sockets in each set.

3. In a display rack, the combination of a primary frame provided with two registering racks, each rack provided with a plurality of sockets, a supporting frame on said primary frame, and an adjustable frame above said supporting frame and on said primary frame and being capable of engaging the sockets of said racks.

4. In a display rack, the combination of a primary frame including two rod-like front uprights, said uprights being bent outwardly in alignment producing a plurality of sockets, a supporting frame on said primary frame, and an adjustable frame above said supporting frame and provided with portions at all times seated in some of said sockets.

5. In a display rack, the combination of a primary frame, a supporting frame on said primary frame, said supporting frame including rods bent downwardly and outwardly near their front ends and having their front ends bent slightly upwardly, constituting a platform, and said primary frame provided with a guiding frame contiguous to and above said supporting frame.

6. In a display rack, the combination of a primary frame, a guiding frame on said primary frame, a supporting frame under said guiding frame, said supporting frame including container contacting rods, said rods being bent downwardly near their front end and slightly upwardly at their outer front ends, and said outer front ends extending beyond the outer front end of said guiding frame whereby a platform is formed outside of said primary frame.

'7. In a display rack, the combination of a primary frame, including sets of vertically spaced uprights, a fixed guiding frame fastened near the upper ends of said uprights, a plurality of vertically spaced supporting frames on said primary frame below said fixed guiding frame, and adjustable frames fixedly secured only at their rear ends to said primary frame and being movably mounted at their front ends only above some of said supporting frames.

RICHARD A. BRENHOLT. 

